Poverty is one of the most important influences on educational attainment in Canada. Using Statistics Canada definitions, the overall poverty rate in Canada in 1991 was 16 percent; 4.2 million people fell below low income thresholds, and most poor families fell well below the cutoff ($21,000 for an urban family of four). The most notable change in Canada's poor population has been the drop in the number of poor seniors and the concomitant rise in the proportion of poor families and especially women and children. Poverty rates in Canada have remained relatively high despite the enormous growth in two-income families. Minimum wage rates have fallen steadily in real terms over the past decade, and (poor) single-parent families are on the rise. Although the impact of poverty is widely recognized by educators, schools have not invested significant resources in dealing with poverty effectively. Schools cannot by themselves solve problems of poverty, nor should they be held responsible for poverty. At the same time, research indicates that schools can help by improving instruction, providing more preschool education, and forging stronger links with families and communities. Commitment and imagination are needed to take the necessary steps. (Contains a brief abstract and 57 references.) (MLH)